Good Riddance
It’s another double-header weekend for the NFL Playoffs this Saturday and Sunday. Remember back to the days when the Chiefs would be active in this round of the playoffs. Like in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 2003? Seems like a long time ago. Especially when we remember that it was 16 years ago today that the Chiefs won their last game in the playoffs. Think about that for a second … a child born on January 16, 1994 would be of age to have a driver’s license today. Incredible! Anyway, that victory over the Oilers is the subject for our man Enrique and I thought it was a good way to present the weekend.
In order to move forward, one has to confront the past – but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to adopt a belligerent stance when doing so. Sometimes, a nice remembrance is all it takes, and I’ll do my best to prove it.
For the last 16 years, I have kept the visual evidence of my biggest football recollection: the Chiefs playoff win over the then-Houston Oilers on Sunday, January 16, 1994. With time, there have been more special moments, places and players that have helped shape the history of the Kansas City franchise. But the memories of that glorious afternoon in Texas keep popping up. In hindsight, it’s only fitting; the magnitude of the stakes will do that to you.
From the nine sacks by the Chiefs’ D; to Willie Davis’ redemption; to Marcus Allen’s determination; crossing all to way to Keith Cash’s money performance, and ending with Joe Cool’s mastering of the seemingly insurmountable Buddy Ryan-led Houston defense, nothing that I’ve seen in the 20 years that I have followed the Chiefs has topped what was accomplished on that day. For the first time in 25 seasons, Kansas City earned a trip to the AFC Championship Game and that was reason enough to celebrate.
Of course, that was then … and this is now. After going through a stretch in which the team has lost 38 of the last 48 ballgames, I’m more than willing to turn the page. My way of doing that is by presenting testimony that success was once a constant around the Arrowhead Ones. So, on the 16th anniversary of the greatest peak of the past 40 seasons of Chiefs’ football, I leave this in the open with the clear intention of quitting the losing rhymes and consequently, moving on to better times.
Enjoy it.
Here’s a
Plus, below you can see a copy of the sports page in my hometown, where even they were swept up in the success of Joe Montana and the Chiefs.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
|||
|
KANSAS CITY |
0 |
0 |
7 |
21 |
– |
28 |
|
| HOUSTON |
10 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
– |
20 |
|
|
OILERS |
A. Del Greco 49-yard FG |
0-3 |
|||||
|
OILERS |
G. Brown 2-yard TD run. Del Greco PAT kick. |
0-10 |
|||||
|
CHIEFS |
K. Cash 7-yard TD pass from J. Montana. N. Lowery PAT kick. |
7-10 |
|||||
|
OILERS |
Del Greco 43-yard FG |
7-13 |
|||||
|
CHIEFS |
J. Birden 11-yard TD pass from Montana. Lowery PAT kick. |
14-13 |
|||||
|
CHIEFS |
W. Davis 18-yard TD pass from Montana. Lowery PAT kick |
21-13 |
|||||
|
OILERS |
E. Givins 7-yard TD pass from W. Moon. Del Greco PAT kick. |
21-20 |
|||||
|
CHIEFS |
M. Allen 21-yard TD run. Lowery PAT kick |
28-20 |
|||||
| Team Statistics |
HOU |
KC |
| First Downs |
19 |
18 |
| Total Net Yards |
277 |
354 |
| Rushes/Net Yards |
14/39 |
18/71 |
| Net Passing |
238 |
283 |
| Attempts/Completions |
43/32 |
38/22 |
| Had Intercepted |
1 |
2 |
| Sacked/Yards Lost |
9/68 |
2/16 |
| Punts/Average |
5/48.6 |
4/45.0 |
| Penalties/Yards |
3/63 |
7/51 |
| Fumbles/Lost |
7/2 |
0/0 |
| Possession Time |
35:42 |
24:18 |
[...] Good Riddance-Bob Gretz.com And, right now it looks like at least half of the first round will be underclassmen. The total may go as high as 20 once the draft rolls around in April. There’s a lot of defensive talent in the first round thanks to the underclassmen, including Florida CB Joe Haden (left). [...]
The battles with the bills in those years made me a Chief my brother used to watch their games
Thanks for the memory Enrique…
Those certainly were the good ole days.
Go Chiefs.
That was an awesome game and watching “the master” Montana slicing a defense apart with the precisison of a gifted surgeon and Keith Cash slamming the ball in the face of the Buddy Ryan Poster in the end zone after he scored his touchdown made it all the more memorable. We are all hopeful we are headed back to those days and better. The second season is already piquing our interest with recent moves. We’ll see what the rest brings. Good stuff once again Enrique, thanks.
Thanks so much for posting the youtube link!
Re: Fansince93
You don’t have to thank for anything. That’s what they’re for.
Re: Fansince93
It was my pleasure
Thank for the meomories Bob, that was an awsome day for Chiefs Fans.
I don’t know which game was more exciting to me. The game against the Steelers was so much fun with the blocked punt in overtime to win. Then the win in Houston where the game again appeared lost at halftime. Only to see Joe perform his miracle second half comeback. The sky seemed the limit only to be brought back to earth the following weekend. Those were some heady times, too bad Joe retired after the next season. Thanks Enrique, keep the faith, we will get back there eventually!
Great memories of the nineties but the only problem was the fact that the Chiefs never had a great offense during those years. Marty and Carl never had the playmakers in the postseason on offense to get further to the Super Bowl that was the problem. Average joes at reciever and tight end except for Tony G but the Willie Davis, Keith Cash , J.J. Birden , Tim Barnett, Lake Dawson, Robb Thomas, Jonathan Hayes, Danan Hughes, were average at best that never scared any defenses and veterans that were on the decline or were mediocre. I will cherish the fact that Montana and the average joes went into the house of pain and brought pain to the Houston Oilers. But the real facts are that those Chiefs of yester year were strictly defensive teams not offensive. Never any balance on offense.But thanks any ways Bob for those memories.